Personnel of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) stationed at Nigeria’s land borders have voiced concerns over the non-payment of their allowances for the past two and a half years, leaving them in poor working conditions.
According to the personnel, they have been deployed at the borders for over five years, dating back to the previous administration of Muhammadu Buhari, a situation they describe as unusual and disheartening.
One of the security operatives, who spoke to BBC Hausa Service, said: “We were deployed to the borders since President Buhari’s administration, and yet, we have not received our allowances for two and a half years.”
He described their living conditions as “miserable” and appealed to authorities to address their plight urgently.
Former National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (Rtd), had previously highlighted the challenges posed by Nigeria’s porous borders, which he said aided the smuggling of prohibited items and irregular migration.
Speaking at the Nigeria International Partnership Forum in Paris in 2021, Monguno noted that both the NCS and NIS had developed strategies to employ technology in securing the borders.
However, the personnel on the ground paint a grim picture.
“We have not been paid for 18 months. This started during the final days of President Buhari,” one officer explained.
“Usually, personnel shouldn’t stay at such places for over two and a half years, but we have been here for five years.”
The officer raised concerns about security, mentioning colleagues who had been kidnapped and killed by bandits on their way to Kwara.
He added, “Some bad elements among us could turn into moles to compromise efforts to tackle insecurity in the land.”
Customs spokesman Abdullahi Maiwada acknowledged the situation, stating, “The whole process was started in 2019, and we are aware of the current challenges.”
He assured that a review was underway and that affected personnel would be addressed.
Efforts to get a response from the Nigeria Immigration Service were unsuccessful.
Saharareporters
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